One of the world’s largest SSD makers just announced something that could one day make SSDs obsolete: Micron’s FeRAM technology is faster and sturdier than NAND, but consumers will miss it for now
One of the world’s largest SSD manufacturers has just unveiled a groundbreaking development that could ultimately make the technology obsolete.
In a paper Micron, best known for its computer memory and data storage solutions, was presented in a Generative AI Focus Session and announced NVDRAM (non-volatile dynamic random access memory), its version of a type of memory called Ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), which offers better performance than NAND-based SSDs in terms of speed and durability.
FeRAM uses the properties of ferroelectric materials (usually lead zirconate titanate) to store information, which is different from traditional electrical charge-based storage. This method provides faster data access and higher endurance compared to NAND flash memory, which is commonly used in SSDs.
A replacement for Optane
The new technology is also non-volatile, meaning data is retained even when the power is turned off, similar to SSDs. However, the advantage of FeRAM is that it can achieve this without the wear and tear that SSDs sometimes experience, giving it a significantly longer lifespan.
Micron describes NVDRAM as βthe world’s first dual-layer, high-performance, high-density (32Gb) and stackable and non-volatile ferroelectric memory technologyβ and it is largely seen as a follow-on to the company’s defunct Optane storage memory company.
Despite these impressive features, this revolutionary technology will not be available to consumers in the near future due to the high production costs associated with FeRAM.
The company’s initial focus will instead be on industrial applications, where the need for fast, durable and reliable data storage is essential. Blocks and filesthat reported on Micron’s new technology, says: “We imagine Micron is already exploring commercial opportunities with potential server partners and large-scale Gen AI users.”
Nevertheless, Micron’s foray into FeRAM could mark a major milestone in the evolution of data storage technology and it is expected that a CXL-accessible NVDRAM product could be on the way.